Store-service apparatus.



H. L. WILSON.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1912.

1,1 33,450. Patented Mar. 30, 1915,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGIUN. D. c.

H. L. WILSON.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1912.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

1 133A=5Os 2 SHEETSSHEET Z.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTOLITHQ, WASHINGYON, D C.

HARRY L. WILSON, or CLEVELAND, onro, essrsnon, BY BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF JERSEY.

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO A CORPORATION OF NEW STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed May 14, 1912. Serial No. 697,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY L. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Serv1ce Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to store service apparatus and has for its object to improve the same in the particulars to be hereinafter pointed out.

In order that the invention may be un derstood I have illustrated in the accom panying drawings that embodiment thereof which I prefer, without, however, wishing thereby to restrict the scope of my invention and limit it to the specific mechanism illustrated.

Figure l is a side elevation of one end of a store service system embodying the improvements constituting my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section through the lower part of the supporting standard and the immediately contlguous parts. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1. Fig. 5' is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a portion of the carriage and the lock therefor, operating when the basket is lowered.

In the said drawings, 2 represents the track along which the carrier or car travels. It is preferably formed of a pair of parallel taut wires arranged in the same horizontal plane transversely, though some of the features of the invention are adapted for use in systems employing but a single wire as the track.

The track is supported at its ends, as by hangers 3, only one end of the system being shown in the drawings. Upon the lower end of the hanger is secured a sleeve or elongated socket piece a that constitutes the base or support for a number of the parts of the apparatus, as will be described. Those ends of the wires constituting the track which are seen in the drawing are secured to blocks 5, 5, pivoted to the socket piece 4:, it being understood that at the distant end, not illustrated in the drawings, the wires are secured to tension-adjusting devices of any usual or approved kind. 6 designates a encircles the rod 8,

yoke, also pivotally supported by the socket piece 4:, to which are secured the guy wires 7 for holding steady the lower end of the hanger 3.

8 designates a rod arranged to lie parallel with the track 2, and having its rear or inner end supported in a socket 9 in the supporting piece 4. At its outer or forward end this rod carries a frame 17 that supports a plate 19, or other means for connecting the said frame with the track wires and thus uniting them with the outer end of the rod 8, so that these parts are maintained in fixed relations with each other.

l0designates the hook that operates to retain the car or carrier at the end of the track until it is desired to send it upon its journey, this hook being of well known con struction and provided with springs so that it serves as a buffer for the incoming car. It is provided with an eye or loop 11 that thus supporting and steadying its forward end, while leaving it free to move to the extent required in acting as a buffer. A speed-reducing stop for gradually arresting the incoming car is provided, being preferably in the form of a rub plate or spring 12, secured at one end to the hook l0 and having its other end resting upon the rod 8.

13 indicates the car which, in that embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, is constructed to receive and sustain a basket or receiver constituting a parcel carrier. It is provided with wheels ll that rest upon the track wires 2.

The car or carrier herein shown is arranged to be propelled by single impulse means of the speed-increasing type, though other forms of propulsion may be adopted and used in connection therewith, and with some of the other features of the invention.

15 designates the propelling cord. It is secured at one end to a slide or chaser 16 adapted to engage with the car or carrier, and which freely slides over or upon the track 2. The cord 15 extends forwardly from the slide or chaser to a pulley l8 sup ported in the frame 17 at the outer end of the rod 8, around which it passes, and eX- tends thence rearwardly to a pulley 24: supported at the rear of the hanger.

The pulley 18, which turns upon a horizontal pivot, is located midway between the two wires of the track and is so disposed vertically that it passes the horizontal plane in which the track lies so that one line of the propelling cord 15, that secured to the chaser or slide, is located below the track and the other above it. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in double track drop basket cash carrier systems, as the propelling cord is located so as not to interfere in any way with either the car or the basketelevating devices. The cord, in passing between the pulleys 18 and 24, extends through a perforation 22 formed therefor in the socket piece 4, and thence longitudinally through a tubular rod 20, supported by and projecting rearwardly from the supporting 1 socket piece 4, and from which a section of the lower part thereof is cut away, as indicated at 21, forming an opening through which the propelling cord 15 passes into engagement with the pulley 24. From the pulley 24 the cord extends downwardly around a pulley 26 supported in the freely movable block or support therefor, 25, thence upwardly and around the pulley 24, and thence back to the pulley block 25 to which the end of the cord is secured. The two pulleys 24 and 24 are supported in a bracket 23 mounted upon the tubular rod 20. By the arrangement described,the pulley 24 is so mounted that the portion of the cord extending forwardly therefrom leaves the" pulley at the axis of the rod 20-which is in alinement with the axis of the perforation 22-and thence passes clear of the supporting mechanism, without friction or rubbing engagement with any of its parts. A cord 27, carrying at its lower end a handle 28, may be secured to the pulley block 25 and extend to within easy reach of the operator. The bracket 23 may be secured fast to the rod 20, or it may swivel upon the latter. This last referred to arrangement is for some reasons to'be preferred, as it permits the group of pulleys, 24, 24 and 26, to incline in the direction of the operators hand should he stand to one side or the other of the line of the track. This shifting of the positions of the pulleys does not, however, change the axial relation of the cord to the rod 20 at the point where it leaves the pulley 24.

29 represents a catch piece carried by the carrier 13 and arranged to engage with the buffer hook 10, and be held thereby as the carrier comes to the end of the track. 1 spring 30 acts upon the catch piece and holds it normally in position to have holding engagement with the hook. These parts may be of any well known or usual construction. I prefer, however, that the catch shall be in the form of an angle lever, one arm of which lies in the path of the chaser or slide 16 so that when the latter is pulled forward by the cord 15, it first engages with the catch 29 and tilts it, against the action of its spring 30, until it is released from engagement with the hook 10, when, the carrier being free, the slide will move onward carrying before it the carrier, which will thus have imparted to it the impulse that. causes it to travel along the track.

As already stated, I have represented my invention as embodied in a parcel carrier system, and will now describe the elevator and drop mechanism for the basket or parcel receiver, which embrace some features of my invention.

31 designates the parcel-receiving basket which is supported from a suspension plate 82 by rods or wires 33,'these parts being in the main of well known construction. The suspension plate, when lifted into engagement with the carrier, is locked thereto and, when free from the carrier, is supported by a yoke or cross piece 34 to which are connected the elevating cords 35. These are connected at their other ends to a hand piece 36 adapted to be grasped directly by the operator. The elevating cords pass upwardly from the hand piece 36, around pulleys 41, supported in a frame 38, that is pivotally connected, at 40, to an arm or bracket 39 adustably supported upon the hanger 3 and extending rearwardly therefrom. From the pulleys 41 the cords pass to pulleys 47,

and thence downwardly to the aforesaid yoke or cross piece 34. The pulleys 47 are carried by a supporting arm or bracket 42 p'ivotally connected, at 43, with the bracket arms 44, extending forwardly from the socket piece 4. The outer or free end of the supporting bracket 42 is bifurcated, the two arms, 46, thereof, extending laterally and downwardly, and carrying near their ends the pulleys 47. i

A stop 45' carried by the arm 42 engages withthe bracket arms 44 and prevents the downward movement of the arm beyond the desired lowermost position, but allows it to be swung upwardly.

48, 48 represent tubular protectors surrounding the portions of the cords 35 imme diately adjacent to and above their connections with the yoke or cross piece34. They are preferably in the form of closely coiled wire, and serve to prevent wear of. the cords where they pass the suspension plate 32 and also act as stops to arrest the free move ments of the cords relative to the pulleys 47 in the pivoted bracket or arm 42, as, or just before, the suspension plate is lifted into locking engagement with the carrier.

The central portion of the carrier is constructed to serve as a housing for the look ing mechanism that is employed to unite the suspension plate 32 to the carrier when these are brought into proper engagement. But as the locking mechanism forms no part of my invention and may be of any usual or preferred construction, I have made no attempt to illustrate it. This housing part of the carrier has a central depending portion consisting of two inclosing and guiding members 49, L9, separated by an open slot into which the yoke 3%, and lateral inturned projections 51 carried by the suspension plate, enter, as the suspension plate is brought into engagement with the carrier. The suspension plate is also provided with longitudinally disposed contact pieces 56, that engage with the sides of the depending members 49 of the carrier and are thereby guided into engagement with the sides of the carrier or upper portion of the housing. These parts, 51 and 56, of the suspension plate operate to accurately guide and direct it into proper position with reference to the carrier, and hold it after it has been locked thereto against any twisting movements which would tend to strain the parts and perhaps cause their accidental disengagement. The suspension plate isformed with rests 52 that come into engagement with the undersides of the longitudinal members of the carrier and thus steady the basket and prevent it from rocking in the direction of the length of the tracl It is desirable that the carriershould be positively locked at the operators end of the line against the possibility of being impelled along the track during such times as the basket or parcel carrier is out of engagement with the carrier 13, as when it is let fall. to the counter; and that it should be unlocked whenever the parcel receiver is elevated and brought into locking engage ment with the carrier. I have provided a lock of this kind. 58 indicates a sliding locking bolt suitably supported in the frame work of the carrier and arranged to engage with the spring catch 29 and securely hold it in the position it occupies when engaging with the retaining hook 10. The bolt is acted upon by a spring 54 that tends to force it into locking position. 55 is an arm or cam connected with the locking bolt 53 and s0 disposed that whenever the suspension plate is elevated and brought into position to be locked to the carrier, some part of the plate, preferably one of the rests 5:2, engages with such arm and retracts the bolt, moving it out of etngagement with the catch 29, which is then held in contact with the hook 10 only by its spring 30.

The operation of the apparatus herein illustrated and described may now be stated. It will be supposed that the basket and carrier are at the end of the track distant from that illustrated, and are about to be returned to the operators end. Under these conditions the chaser or slide 16 is well advanced, resting upon the tracks near the frame 17; the handle of the propelling cord is down, and the handle of the elevating cord is up. The yoke 34 is in position just below where the slot separating the depending members 4:9 of the carrier will be when the carrier comes into the station and is held by the hook 10. As the carrier, impelled from the cashiers end, approaches the operators station it engages with the slide or chaser 16 and carries it before it, taking up the propelling cord in a well known manner. To lower the basket the operator first pulls upon the elevating cords to bring the yoke 85L into engagement with the suspension plate, and to unlock the plate from the carrier, which being now free, is permitted by the operator to descend. As soon as the suspension plate leaves the carrier, the lock 58 is freed and engages with the catch 29, locking it against movement and thus preventing the empty car being impelled along the track even should the handie 28 of the impelling cord be pulled ever so vigorously. When it is desired to send a parcel along the line it is placed in the basket, which is elevated and locked to the carrier, which at the same time is unlocked from the retaining hook 10. As the suspension plate is brought into engagement with the carrier the tubular cord protectors e8 come into contact with the arms d7 of the pivoted bracket 42 which is lifted a little way by the final movements of the elevating cords. As soon as the suspension plate has been brought into proper engagement with and locked to the carrier, the operator releases the elevating cords, whereupon the pivoted bracket 42 descends to normal position, where it is arrested by its stop 45, and in so doing acts upon the elevating cord stops, consisting of the tubular protectors l8, and forces downward the cords 3-5 sufficiently far to carry the yoke or cross bar 34 below the depending portions 49 of the carrier so as to allow the carrier to clear such yoke or bar when the carrier and its load is impelled along the track by the cord 15.

hat I claim is 1. In a store service system, the combination of a track consisting of a pair of parallel taut wires located in the same horizontal plane, a rod near one end of the track arranged below the track wires and substantially parallel therewith, a frame supported at the end of the rod in which the track wires rest, a propelling cord for the carriers, and a pulley for said propelling cord mounted in the said frame between the track wires, the pulley extending across the plane of the track whereby one of the strands of the propelling cord is above and the other below the track.

2. In a store service system, the combination of a track, a support for one end thereof, a propelling cord, a support carrying a pulley for the cord located adjacent to the track a short distance in front of the said track support, and a hollow rod carried by the track support and extending rearwarolly therefrom, the propelling cord extending through the said rod and through a perforation formed in the said support in line with the said hollow rod.

3. In a store service system, the combination of a track, a support for one end thereof, a propelling cord, a support carrying a pulley for the cord located adjacent to the track a short distance in front of the.

said track support, and a hollow rod carried by the track support and extending rearwardly therefrom, a section of the rod being cut away to form an opening into the interior of the rod, the propelling cord extending through a perforation formed in the said support in line with the rod, through the rod and out through the opening formed by cutting it away as set forth.

1-. In av store service system, the combination of a track, a support'for one end thereof, a propelling cord, a support carrying a pulley for the cord located adjacent to the'track a short distance in front of the said track support, a hollow rod carried by the track support and extending rearwardly therefrom, a section of the rod being cut away to form an opening into the interior of the rod, and a pulley located opposite the cut away portion of the rod, the propelling cord extending through a perforation formed in the said support in line with the rod, through the rod, out through the opening, and over the said pulley located. adjacent to the said opening.

5. In a store service system, the combination of a track, a support for one end thereof, a propelling cord, a support carrying a pulley for the cord located adjacent to the track a short distance in front of the said track support, a hollow rod carried by the track support and extending rearwardly therefrom, a section of the rod being cut away to form an opening into the interior of the rod, and a pulley located opposite the said cut away portion of the rod with its rim extending through the opening into the rod so as to bring the cord seat therein at approximately the longitudinal axis of the rod, the propelling cord extending through a perforation formed in the said support in line with the rod, through the rod and into engagement with the said pulley. r

6. In a store service system, the combination of a track, a support for one end thereof, means, including a cord, to propel carriers along said track, a support carrying a pulley for the cord located adjacent to the track and in front of said track support, a pivotal element carried by the track support and extending insubstantial parallelism with the track and closely adjacent thereto, and a bracket supporting pulley for the propelling cord swiveled upon saidelement, whereby the portion of said cord which is nearest the operator may be pulled with substantially equal eifectiyeness while said portion is plum or is disposed at an angle widely departing from plumb.

7. In a store service system, the combination of a track consisting of a pair of parallel taut wires, a support for one end thereof, a frame extending forwardly from the support and carrying a pulley located between the trackwires, a hollow rod extending rearwardly from the track support, the said support being perforated in line with the said rod, and a section of the underside of the rod being cut away to form an open ing into the interior thereof, a frame swiveledupon the said rod and carrying a pulley located opposite the said cut away part of the rod, and a propelling cord passing over the said pulleys and through the hollow rod and the perforation in the track support.

HARRY L. l/VILSON.

Witnesses WVALTER'F. PAGE, JEANNnTTn BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gominissioner of Patents,

Washington,1). G." i 

